Employing 1,800 staff, the Taiwanese business made Kingfisher a profit of £5m last year.

"Our Taiwanese joint venture has been a success, providing good investment returns for shareholders while also acting as a useful springboard for entering the large and fast-growing mainland Chinese market," said chairman Peter Jackson.

"However, after 11 years of expansion B&Q Taiwan now offers only limited opportunities for future market share growth for Kingfisher."

Several UK retailers, including Tesco, have made big strides in China as rising income levels have boosted demand for consumer goods.

Kingfisher, which also owns the French DIY chain Castorama, recently announced that chief executive Gerry Murphy would step down in February.